The men’s Olympic triathlon began in farcical circumstances on Tokyo Bay, with one of the most bizarre false starts you could ever wish to see.
With the athletes poised across the pontoon ahead of the start of the swim leg of the race, the starting hooter sounded while half of the field still had their entry to the water blocked by a boat.
The majority of the athletes on that side of the pack understandably stayed on dry land, but some appeared to have a lucky escape while a considerable chunk of the pack on the other end of the pontoon broke away and were initially oblivious to the hooters and flags attempting to recall them to the start.
Eventually, disaster was averted by a crew of speed boats and jet skis, who managed to cut the athletes off after around 150m of swimming.
What an extraordinary (false) start to the Olympic triathlon!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 25, 2021
The gun went off - but half the athletes had a boat in their way 😬
Fortunately they didn't get too far, and the second start is under way now.
Watch on @bbcone now ➡ https://t.co/Iqw28rGJLW #bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/3p16Yqx8XA
Two-time defending champion Alistair Brownlee failed to qualify for these Games, leaving brother Jonny - silver medalist from Rio having won bronze in London - and Alex Yee as Britain’s leading hopes.
